The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-03-09
Last Days of Chas. Wesley.

In old age Charles Wesley rode lit
tie white horse, grey with age. 1t ap-
pears to have been brought every morn
ing from the foundry-an arrangement
which its master did not like, but
which it was impossible to avoid. He
was somewhat stouter than his broth
er, but not corpulent. Henry Moore
says that he wore winter clothing even
in summer. When he mounted his
horse, eff subject struck him, hepro-
ceeded to expand it and put it in order.
This he used to write on q card in
short hand with his pencil" Not un-
frequently he used to come to the house
in the City Road, and, having left the
pony in the garden in front, he would
enter, crying out, "Pen and ink! pen
and ink!" When these were given
him, he proceeded to write out his
hymn. This done, he looked around
on those present, saluted them with
much kindness, inquired after their
health, and then gave out some short
hymn.
What impression he produced on
strangers may be understood from Will
liam Wilberforce's account of his first
interview with the venerable poet, al
the house of Hannah Moore. He says:
"I went, in 1852, to see her, and when
came into the room Charles Wesley
rose from the table, around which a
numerous company sat at tea, and,
coming forward to me, gave me SOL
emnly his blessing. l was scarcely
ever more affected. Such was the ef-
feet of his manner and appearance
that it altogether overset me, and /
burst into tears, unable to restrain my
self"
When City Road Chapel was built,
Charles Wesley preached there OF iii
some other Methodist chapel every
Sunday morning and afternoon, except
when he was supplying the congrega-
ton in Bristol, or was laid aside from
his growing infirmities. His ministry
was solemn and awakening, yet full OF
tenderness for the mourncrs. When
in good health and under the special
Influence Of the Spirit, as he Often
was, he was fluent and powerful. He
used short, pointed sentences, full Of
Scripture sentiment and phraseology.
"In prayer he was copious and mighty,
especially on sacramental occasions,
when he seemed to enter into the holi-
est of all by the blood of Jesus" If
his thoughts did not flow freely, he
was very deliberate in the pulpit, MAX
ing long pauses, as though waiting for
the Spirits influence. "In such cases
he usually preached with his eyes clos
ed; he fumbled with his hands about
his breast, leaned with his elbows up
on the Bible, and his whole body was
in motion. He was often so feeble as
to be under the necessity of calling up
on his congregation to sing in the
course of his sermon, that he might
partially recover himself, and be able
to finish his DISCOURSE" Till within a
few months of his death he continued
his ministry in the London chapels.
Every lover of Charles Wcsley's
poetry has been touched by the dying
effort of his muse. For some time he
had been lying quietly OH his bed. AT
last he called for Mrs. Wesley, and
asked her to write the following lines
at his dictation:
"In age and fceblcness extreme,
Who shall sinful worm redeem;
Jesus, my only hope Thou art,
Strength of my failing flesh and heart;
o could catch smile from Thee,
And drop into etcrnity!'
On Saturday, the 29th of March, his
happy spirit fled. Through the whole
week the restlessness Of death had
been on him. He slept much, with
out refreshment. On Tuesday and
Wednesday he was not entirely sensi-
BILE. His end was what he particular
ly wished it might be-peace. mo
fiend," he said to his wife, twas per-
mitted to approach him." Some one
observed that the valley of the shad-
ow of death was hard to be passed.
mot with Christ" was his answer.
He spoke to all his children with af-
fection and hope Of their salvation.
Samuel Bradburn sat up with him the
night but one before his death. His
mind was calm as summer evening.
On the Saturday all the family stood
round his bed. The last words which
they could catch from his lips were,
"Lord, my heart, my God" With
his hand lying in his daughters the
old saint passed home so gently that
the watchers did not know when the
spirit fled. 1t was afterwards ascer-
tanned that John Wesley was in Shrop-
shire, and at the moment of his broth
er's death he and his congregation
were singing Charles Wesley's hymn:
"One army of the living God,
To His command we bow;
Part of His host have crossed the flood,
And part are crossing now.